Sesame Street's 40th Season Connects With Nature

Since its 1969 debut, Sesame Street has helped entertain and educate audiences around the world. In the United States alone, approximately 8-million people tune in to visit the street each week. Sesame Street is now entering its landmark 40th season, set to debut on PBS in November 2009.

While recent years have had season-wide focuses such as healthy habits, getting ready for school, vocabulary development, and math literacy; this season will include a focus on nature, and will tie into a nationwide campaign designed by Sesame Workshop to nurture children’s appreciation and love for nature by supporting their innate sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world. The season-wide focus will weave nature themes more directly into the television program, as well as other Sesame Workshop materials such as books, home videos and toys. The Muppets of Sesame Street will spend the season encouraging viewers to explore their curiosity in the outdoors through hands-on activity, and viewers will learn simple, age-appropriate ways to show care and stewardship for the environment.

But the new season won't be only focus on environmental issues. "Elmo's World", which has been a staple segment of the series since its premiere in season 30, will continue with new episodes already being produced. And ever since the show's first episode in 1969, celebrities have been an integral part of the show. This landmark season will be no exception, with numerous big-named stars set to appear. A promotional image sent to us by Sesame Workshop shows Adam Sandler singing with Elmo and a Muppet dragon during the taping of a new segment for the upcoming season. I will keep you updated with more details on this exciting landmark season as I get them.